My problem is this, I've been making my rods out of GUSA blanks, These blanks are much thinner than say a Castar blank. My next rod will be a GUSA UR76M blank, And I would like to build a cork wrapped handle bait stick, My problem is, A wrap of cork on the blank isnt thick enough. How should I build up the butt end of the blank?

Double wrap it.

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

Wrap the second layer of cork tape in a spiral direction OPPOSITE to the first spiral. Or, if your hands trip over themselves doing that, just stagger the seam, so that it pretty much runs down the CENTER of the underlying layer.

Cork Tape typically comes in 1/16th inch or 1/8th inch thicknesses.

Any particular reason you want to use cork tape rather than a foam grip or a (pre-)formed cork handle?

In case it's just a matter of butterflies in your newbie stomach, some great instructions on Mounting HYPALON or EVA Rod Grip Material are avaialble from Tom Kirkman on the RBO FAQs Page: That should help. Try Rod-Bond Epoxy.

Good luck. ... Happy Passover & Happy Easter to all,
-Cliff Hall+++, Gainesville, FL-USA*****

Q#-20. How should I go about mounting EVA or Hypalon grips? Should I heat or boil the grips to make them stretch? [www.rodbuilding.org]

Re: eva grip ... Tom Kirkman (Moderator) ... 01-02-2005 09:51AM
The installation process on the FAQs page is easy, quick and insures a permanent mount. No muss, no fuss. And you can stretch a grip ID a really long way. The key is where you put your epoxy, not how much. EVA or Hypalon installation should be a 30 or 40 second task at best. Lubes, push-boards, compressed air, etc., really aren't necessary unless you just prefer using them.

Cliff Hall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wrap the second layer of cork tape in a spiral
> direction OPPOSITE to the first spiral. Or, if
> your hands trip over themselves doing that, just
> stagger the seam, so that it pretty much runs down
> the CENTER of the underlying layer.
>
> Cork Tape typically comes in 1/16th inch or 1/8th
> inch thicknesses.
>
> Any particular reason you want to use cork tape
> rather than a foam grip or a (pre-)formed cork
> handle?
>
> In case it's just a matter of butterflies in your
> newbie stomach, some great instructions on
> Mounting HYPALON or EVA Rod Grip Material are
> avaialble from Tom Kirkman on the RBO FAQs Page:
> That should help. Try Rod-Bond Epoxy.
>
> Good luck. ... Happy Passover & Happy Easter
> to all,
> -Cliff Hall+++, Gainesville, FL-USA*****
>
> Q#-20. How should I go about mounting EVA or
> Hypalon grips? Should I heat or boil the grips to
> make them stretch?
>
> Re: eva grip ... Tom Kirkman (Moderator) ...
> 01-02-2005 09:51AM
> The installation process on the FAQs page is easy,
> quick and insures a permanent mount. No muss, no
> fuss. And you can stretch a grip ID a really long
> way. The key is where you put your epoxy, not how
> much. EVA or Hypalon installation should be a 30
> or 40 second task at best. Lubes, push-boards,
> compressed air, etc., really aren't necessary
> unless you just prefer using them.
No butterflies, The rod I'm replacing is a cork wrapped and I like the feel of it

Let me throw out another option just in case you find two layers of the cork tape a bit too heavy. Use cord. Nylon cord comes in various colors and sizes. It is terribly durable and yet easy to apply. Wind it on, starting and finishing it just like you would regular thread on a guide wrap. Then, cover with one or two coats of PermaGloss or similar urethane.

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